CHEYENNE — Western wear goes in and out of fashion’s graces. One year, cowboy boots and concha belts are hot, the next they’re not.
But for those who ranch, ride, rodeo or just feel at ease in jeans and a snap- front shirt, Western wear isn’t subject to the vagaries of fashion. And that’s never more clear than each July, when 500,000 people from all over the world gather in this southeastern Wyoming town for Cheyenne Frontier Days.
Those who want to adopt the Western look — or just elements of it — during the 10-day celebration won’t have any trouble shopping for it here. A visitor’s first stop should be The Wrangler, a Cheyenne retailer since 1943, as the sign atop the brick store at 1518 Capitol St. proudly proclaims. (It’s now affiliated with Boot Barn, which has two other Cheyenne locations).
Last week, manager Pat McGhee was preparing for a shipment of 3,000 pairs of cowboy boots and vendors were stocking the cavernous store with summer hats, shirts and jeans for men, women and children. This is the spot for authentic Wrangler and Cinch denim — what real cowboys and cowgirls prefer — as well as fashion- forward collections.
Kim Kuhn, who wears the title and official belt buckle of Miss Frontier 2009, says that Western design has evolved in recent years to more closely mirror mainstream fashion trends, but there are still big differences between real cowgirls and what she terms “buckle bunnies,” or women more interested in the cowboys and fashion than authentic rodeo events. That’s why you’ll see Kuhn in an ivory beaver hat, but not one of those flimsy straw numbers with the rolled-up sides, popularized a decade ago by Julia Roberts in “Runaway Bride.” Ditto for tying your shirt in a knot at your waist. Wear it out over a T-shirt, or tucked in, but never knotted.
She says more Wyoming men and women are wearing low-rise jeans instead of the high-waisted 13MWZ Wranglers that ruled rodeo for years. But jeans still tend to be worn “starched and stacked,” meaning they’ve got a stiff crease ironed down the front and they puddle a few inches above the ankle. Pity the poor guy or gal with short pants; it’s just not cool.
Kuhn, who rides in all the parades and daily rodeos during Frontier Days, says her job is to meet with visitors and “teach them as much as I can about Western heritage and how the rodeo came to be.”
She’ll also share fashion tips if that’s what someone’s interested in. She cautions people to stay in their comfort zone “so they don’t try too hard and end up wearing a costume.
“You can add an item at a time and make something look Western just by accessorizing with a belt, some silver beads or turquoise earrings,” Kuhn says.
And even on blazing-hot Wyoming days, Kuhn’s advice is to wear a crisp blouse and jeans rather than a sleeveless top and shorts. “To me, it’s way more comfortable than getting scalded by the sun,” she says.
Suzanne S. Brown: 303-954-1697 or sbrown@denverpost.com
